Garage + Tools = Freeloaders?

[longlivepunk]

I'm not a motorcycle mechanic, but I work on motorcycles and spent many years working on bicycles, especially high-end mountain bikes -hydraulic brakes). So a buddy I worked with at the time was an apprentice motorcycle mechanic (I was in sales) and he got a side job putting ape hangers on a guy's Harley. He had a tendency to overvalue his time and not even consider yours. Wanted to do the lob in my garage, and insisted it would take him an hour. I told him it'd take at least 3, which he laughed at and said "which one of us is the motorcycle mechanic?"

That chapped my *** a bit, so I said sure, come on over. Brings the bike and some tools, but has to borrow a thing or two. Turns out he didn't do his research: no safety torx or 12pt sockets? Good luck with those brake lines! Long story short, he spent more than he made on new tools and DOT fluid, took around 9 hours (had to borrow my key while I was at work which I did NOT like) BUT he swallowed his pride, admitted I was right, and gave me $100. I'm happy how it turned out, but no one gets to borrow my garage anymore.

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[rr1963]

Am I the only person who has no idea what ^^^he^^^ just said?

So it wasn't just me.

 

[2CRUZ]

You really want to have the neighbors come over. Put in a **** Blast sand blasting cabinet in your garage. I didn't have it two weeks and I had 5 or 6 people wanting to bring different things (car parts, bicycle parts ect.) over to clean and paint. I try to be a good neighbor to everyone. I work on their lawn mowers and do small welding projects for them for free. I just remember when I was young we were so poor we didn't have any thing. I try to be good to people if I can as long as they don't try to take advantage of me. I think God wants us to be kind and try to help our neighbors in need. I'm retired and I'm not hurting for money. God has truly blessed me in my life so I don't mind helping people if I can.

 

[CoogarXR]

If you think having tools and shop is a mooch attractant try letting people know that you can fix computers.

I would get calls on any day or night at almost any time asking me to help them fix their computer problem. "Gee, I know you probably eating dinner but I can't get my email..."

The worst was a guy that insisted I work on his schedule, at his house. I had to bring it home with me to fix it, go get parts and pay for them up front. He again wanted me to deliver on his schedule which i couldn't make so he grudgingly came by my place to pick up the PC from my son. The parts were 17 bucks and change, stood in line for 30 minutes to get them after a 1 hour round trip. He actually left a check (which back then I take to the bank) for the exact amount. He was co-worker where i contracted or I would have told him no in the first place.

After that one my wife answered the calls and told them she won't let me work on computers anymore.

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

 

[JerryC]

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

So true...

 

[engineer2]

^^^ I quit working on relatives computes for the same reasons. I tell them Geeksquad or just buy a new computer.

 

[DCarr2]

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

Hence why I no longer work on computers. I actually take my computer (minus the hard drives) to a local guy that fixes it when it breaks lol I dont have the patience for it anymore.

its even worse for those of us in the home improvement business, 'while your here, can you look at this...?' and then typically want it fixed/made to look better for free... and once you touch it, you own it, for life...

my new neighbor already knows I do sandblasting on the side, he saw me try to sneak in my diesel air compressor... figures the day I decide to move it over here (a week day while everyone is supposed to be at workk) is the day he took off.... fail

so we got talking... he restores old chevy broncos... and cars... sandblasting led to painting which led to welding... needless to say, its actually nice having him across the street as I have already borrowed a few tools from him since none of my stuff is here yet...

at my old house, having a heated shop full of just about every tool imaginable always led to the 'hey its 5F out you mind if I come over and change my oil?

then that would lead too: well I only brought a filter because I know you buy motor oil by the case... which later led to: Ill pay you the $20 for the oil... and then that always leads too, Is it ok that I was my car and clean it out while im here?

in the end, my stuff sat outside in the cold, my floor was lefdt wet and dirty, and I now had 5 more qts of used oil to get rid of, and typically would be down 5 qts. I have discovered often times these are the same people that you find at the grocery store 2hrs before the blizzard buying everything in sight, because they plan for the 'now' and not tomorrow... they fail to understand that when I buy 2-4 cases of oil on sale, its not for them to use... or when I buy 1-2 big packages of paper towels their not free...

I once made this mistake about 5 years ago when I offered to let a friend move in with me after he moved back to the area, with in 1 month he used up over 25 rolls of paper towels, and 50 rolls of toilet paper.. and managed to change enough oil that 3 cases of oil were now in 5 gallon pails as 'used' from him changing the oil on all his friends vehicles... needless to say we arnt friends anymore.

If people know you have something they need, the moment they need it, they will remember what you have and come knocking.

name it... I buy drywall screws and such fasteners by the case... they always want just a handful... I buy ceiling paint and latex/oil base primers... 'can I have a couple gallons?' Or pool sand, its $3 a bag at home depot, usually have a few bags laying around 'Can I have some?'

Plastic sheeting... I have miles of it... 'you mind if I take a roll?'

Or they offer to pay you for it... the problem these people fail to realize is that most of us who keep stuff like this on hand, keep a mental inventory of what, and how much, they have on hand... when you or someone else takes 'some' that mental inventory gets skewed, and is no longer accurate... leading to frusturation later, doesnt matter if you pay me money or not, that mental inventory is now off by X. (thought id explain that to those that are moochers)

 

[unslow1]

What's a "rail"?

I'm from IL and didn't have a clue either.

 

[unslow1]

^^^ I quit working on relatives computes for the same reasons. I tell them Geeksquad or just buy a new computer.

I had to stop working on computers also. Too much of the fixing the same ones over and over. People don't want to run virus protection because it slows down the computer. I told everyone the last operating system I knew how to work on was Office.

I have a few friends with lifts that offer to let me use them. I have only taken one of them up on it twice. Both time to switch out a transmission. If you haven't done it it takes less than half as long with a lift. He refused to take any cash. The first time I left a $20 and utility knife on his desk with a thank you use for shop supplies note. A couple of days prior I was helping him and he could find his knife. The second time I left a thank you note and case of ****** fluid.

 

[housedad]

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

AND FER GOD'S SAKE, don't tell anyone that you can replace Android, Ipad and Iphone screens!!!

Just say NO!!!

They REALLY come out of the woodwork if they find out.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

My standard question for stupid comments goes "And your point is?"

 

[ZRX61]

Guy asked me if he could use my garage to swap out the SBC in his 280Z, said it would take 3 to 5 days....

What he didn't tell me was that those 3-5 days would be spread over 3 ******* months.

Called him up & said "You have 20 minutes to get this POS out of my garage or I'm going to push it across the street & dump it in the desert. He showed up with a tow truck.

My *rent* was a 460, a 429, two C6's & a factory Eliminator hood scoop for a '69 Cougar.

 

[Short Round]

I haven't had much of a problem since I put my Shop up. A guy at work kept asking when my lift would be installed because he needs to look at something on his truck. I just kept telling him I hadn't put it up yet. Then he heard from other people at work that I did have it up. He got the hint.
The problem I have at the moment is a buddy who helped me many days and nights build the shop won't take me up on my offer that he is more then welcome to used it to fix his cars as needed. He does everything at his Mom's house (My next door neighbor) due to not having a garage at his house. I went over and saw him laying on his back changing the oil on his wife's car. I told him I have a lift and an oil caddy ready to go and he just thinks that he would be taking advantage of me for using it.

that's the kind of guy you just blurt out. "Hey *******, if there is one friend I have around here that earned to use that lift, it's you. I don't want to see you laying on the ground."


A few of you guys are shooters and ammo reloaders too. I do a lot of reloading. I had a "friend" drop off some brass to tumble clean. He doesn't load but bought the equipment to load so I'm a bit puzzled if he finally set up his gear. Nope. He wants me to reload his stuff or him using my components. I told him nope, I'm not a factory but you can use my gear and I'll teach you. Nope he laughs, "I decided I don't want to waste my time on that ****, you do it." Needless to say I handed him his stuff back. He was a friend for years but just got more odd like that.

 

[Movover]

AND FER GOD'S SAKE, don't tell anyone that you can replace Android, Ipad and Iphone screens!!!

Just say NO!!!

They REALLY come out of the woodwork if they find out.

Just say NO!! I tried that a few years back then it turned into the same people over and over saying I can get the screen on eBay for $10 you can just put it on for me the video said it would only take a few min.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Just... say... no. Hell. No.

I don't work for free. I REALLY don't shop space, and asking to borrow tools may get you chased with a baseball bat. WITH barbed wire.. I have no exceptions to this, and once I made it known, people stopped asking.

I have a rate chart in my shop, when someone asks for a "favor" I point at the chart, 50% cash before I start, 30% surcharge on top of parts cost PLUS mileage. And until you pay up the car stays here, outside, under that drippy sappy ol' pine tree.

People used to take advantage of my kindness (like the guy below with the ammo) when I was a sap who thought I owed them favors (that would never get returned). Bottom line - My friends aren't moochers. If I gotta pay to put something in the shop, or to buy a tool I need, I do. Along that same line... I don't pay my hard earned money to run a lending library and tool replacement program.

Bet we can be friends......!!!

That is just pretty. I could be your friend!!! Hell... can I use that as wallpaper for my computer? I mean, damn, that is just too cool.

...I had a "friend" drop off some brass to tumble clean. He doesn't load...

That sounds like it's about to go bad already... maybe he wants to learn?

I told him nope, I'm not a factory but you can use my gear and I'll teach you. Nope he laughs, "I decided I don't want to waste my time on that ****, you do it."

Oops... Silly me. He wants a free handout of your time and money so he can walk on you... and tell people what a sap you are. Because he got $250 of ammo off you for free, plus all your time.

I just don't effing get people like that.

I don't waste my time on moochers. In fact, that "I don't waste my time on that ****, you do it" comment would have earned him a (1) "**** you pal" (2) mashing his shiny brass with my shiny 10# sledge, and maybe even (3) an introduction to Lucille's cousin, Beulah.

I mean, well, what's next... he's bored, so he asks you to borrow your wife so he can bang her for free?

 

[Schurkey]

I learned this lesson as far back as the late 80s.

Ive still got a 5k sqft shop, with 4 bays, 2 lifts, and includes everything you will find in a well equipped Indy shop and then some, even OEM service info for the big three, as well as all data. Ive also got a fab shop, and even own toys like a Huth exhaust tubing bender. Turns out, I like buying shop equipment and tools.

Sir, you are an inspiration.






If I'm doing charity work, I know it's charity work going in. I recognize that I'm probably going to supply the parts along with the tools, the heat, the electricity, the freshly-squeezed air, and my time and skill. I don't take money, and I don't write a work-order. If they pay for the parts, I give them the receipt that I got at the parts-store. I don't ever do the work for profit, and that way I don't have to claim it on my taxes, OR CHANGE MY INSURANCE TO "COMMERCIAL" instead of "residential".

And for some people, I'm willing to do that. The ones I'm not willing to get bent-over for, I tell 'em "No."

 

[stimpy]

to keep the ******* and moaning down I tell them to take it to a shop or the dealer and get me a printed out quote first . then I charge 1/2 the quoted labor and my cost on parts plus my mark up ( and I am ussually about 1/2 price of the local **** box store )and parts are paid for in advance , I do not float money on parts this way if they back out they get the parts plus a locating fee of $25 ( my time looking them up and ordering them ) . and labor is paid on completion , I had one who decided to spend there money on a tv that was supposed to cover my labor and he thought I was going to let him have his car . needless the car sat in my drive for a week with the tires and battery removed and they had to get a ride to work + I charged a idiot charge of $20 , they are on my Banned list too .
and I had one who thought I was a bank when it came to the parts , sorry , no money no parts , not even for friends ,
specially my one wifes friend , stupid **** is more important than her car , she found out the car gets her to work and its a long walk to work .. when I say it needs to be fixed immediately means now , not next month ( brakes down to sensors ) but the concert tickets were more important to her , well a simple pad and rotor job , now was a pad , rotor, caliper and hub , bumper , fender , windshield , airbag tire and rim , plus the recovery fee and storage fee at the yard when the pad cut the rotor down and locked the wheel at 35 mph on a wet road and put it in the ditch ..

only 3 people get super cheap rates (free) , the one I sleep with , and my brother and his wife as he has RA and cannot wrench , but he does buy me ammo ( and not just one box more like a case ) or I find a envelope in my tool box with some cash , plus he runs for pop, parts and has bought me dinner while working on it ( once had grilled venison ) . but most of my freinds Know how I work and never has one Not offered a barter or payment for my time or garage . ( hell half of them have real garages so I do mobile work over there )

 

[66354dream]

Most of these stories remind me of that little saying,,,," no deed goes unpunished".

 

[DCarr2]

Most of these stories remind me of that little saying,,,," no deed goes unpunished".

thats why you need to make it a habit of doing many good deeds so that you only get punished for one or two...

 

[nutsnbolts]

My oldest friend is a mechanic. Over the years he has done a lot of work for me. I have always paid him, usually more than he asks for. A lot of people are like the OP's friends who try to take advantage of him.

I am more interested in learning how to work on cars than I used to be, so anymore I usually do the work and he walks me through it. I have fun, pick up great knowledge, and he doesn't get all dirty, so it works for both of us. I still always give him something for his time. And about once a month I call him out of the blue just to say hi and see if he wants to do something, just to remind him that he still does have friends that don't want to just use him.

 

[ZRX61]

You really want to have the neighbors come over. Put in a **** Blast sand blasting cabinet in your garage.

Neighbors??? I had a friend show up from 70 miles away with a Harley frame....

 

[jd_1138]

Neighbors??? I had a friend show up from 70 miles away with a Harley frame....

That sounds like fun -- blasting a motorcycle frame, then priming and painting it. And building a bike from scratch. I'd build a classic Harley -- 2 tone paint, lots of chrome.

 

[1shoelace]

I'm a goldsmith, by hobby now, after having owned two stores. I was constantly asked for a little this or that- sizing rings, fixing fall out stones, can you just solder this chain?... All of it is my time, materials, acids, polish compounds, etc. and just plain set up time.
They usually describe what's wrong with it, let's say a ring, as well as how they want it to work and look when I'm done. You can do that, can't you? A few have even said to just "throw a few extra diamond chips on it", if I want to....(?)
I always run an approximate mental retail cost list for all work to be done, and ask if that's all they want. Then I simply tell them the total. They usually look at me a little surprised while I say NOTHING!

After the the pause, I tell them I will supply the talent, even the tools, but you aren't asking me to supply my own time, gold solders, acids, 14kt heads to hold those few free extra diamonds, all with a work guarantee, for free, are you?
I've found that the world splits into two kinds of people after that:
-I want you to do it. I will pay you.
-Let me think about it....

Family (immediate) for free of course or cost of the new whatever's at cost + mail.
The rest of the world can work it out however they want- cookies are nice but don't count. One lady had an electrician for a husband, that was handy and it counted. Most people just vaporize and that's fine too.
Interesting thing in passing, one family had a poor and troubled 14 yr old son that heard about me and visited the house while we were out one Saturday night trying to find a non existent friend inside our house... our 2 security systems worked flawlessly. The German Shepard gave him the worst. No blood, but lots of torn clothes and scratches. No charges or complaints oddly enough.
Be careful who you let into your shops!! All of us can be victims.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Cyberbear]

The world is full of free loading moochers, and because of that negative quirk in human nature, I've always kept my cadre of "friends" very small. No amount of effort to educate the takers in our society will have any effect on their natural propensity towards simple greed. "Never a borrower or a lender be" are wise words to live by.

 

[DCarr2]

I'm a goldsmith, by hobby now, after having owned two stores. I was constantly asked for a little this or that- sizing rings, fixing fall out stones, can you just solder this chain?... All of it is my time, materials, acids, polish compounds, etc. and just plain set up time.
They usually describe what's wrong with it, let's say a ring, as well as how they want it to work and look when I'm done. You can do that, can't you? A few have even said to just "throw a few extra diamond chips on it", if I want to....(?)
I always run an approximate mental retail cost list for all work to be done, and ask if that's all they want. Then I simply tell them the total. They usually look at me a little surprised while I say NOTHING!

After the the pause, I tell them I will supply the talent, even the tools, but you aren't asking me to supply my own time, gold solders, acids, 14kt heads to hold those few free extra diamonds, all with a work guarantee, for free, are you?
I've found that the world splits into two kinds of people after that:
-I want you to do it. I will pay you.
-Let me think about it....

Family (immediate) for free of course or cost of the new whatever's at cost + mail.
The rest of the world can work it out however they want- cookies are nice but don't count. One lady had an electrician for a husband, that was handy and it counted. Most people just vaporize and that's fine too.
Interesting thing in passing, one family had a poor and troubled 14 yr old son that heard about me and visited the house while we were out one Saturday night trying to find a non existent friend inside our house... our 2 security systems worked flawlessly. The German Shepard gave him the worst. No blood, but lots of torn clothes and scratches. No charges or complaints oddly enough.
Be careful who you let into your shops!! All of us can be victims.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Given my one dog is VERY protective of me and 'his' house, that kid would probably need emergency care had he broken into my house.

My dogs are cool til you do something that seems 'off' then you get a warning, a growl.. from there it gets worse... Had a guy over to look over some plumbing... had to remove the dog... hes uber friendly, but do something out of the norm, or try to remove something thats here? even if its yours... and you left it here and came back for it, he considers its now his.

 

[EricP]

I'm a hobbyist woodworker/boat-builder with a well equipped shop who likes to help friends and co-workers out in between hunting season and baseball season and raising a family of five. There is one thing that gripes me when someone asks for help. It typically goes like this. I'm asked if can make a few cuts on my table saw for their project. I say I'll be glad to help. Then when they show up they want to build a cabinet or other piece and have nothing but some raw materials and want me to show them how to build whatever picture they have in their head. Usually they have no concept of good joinery and want help building something doomed to fail so I get sucked in to rethinking their entire project and working out the construction details. Time consuming. After that scenario occurring multiple times I now tell people I'll gladly help but they need to bring a cutlist and that I'll machine their stock but offer nothing more. That seems to put an end to their thought of showing up to my shop and getting something built and has about eliminated the issue. It also gives me the option of giving additional help if I desire but not be sucked in to build something for someone else when my to do list is perpetually behind schedule. Again, I love to help people but that help has limits.

 

[scooz14]

i help a lot of people, but not for free. time is money. shop costs money to run. everybody gets an estimate before i even pull their car in. they know up front it is not free.

 

[Stevedore]

Before I retired several years ago, I was an I.T. support engineer in a govt organization. I had to be very careful about whose home computers I would help with. For people I liked & had good relationships with, I was happy to help. Others, not as much.

A couple I remember-

A woman who had some involvement in reviewing & awarding my contract each year CONSTANTLY raised the option of finding a support person less expensive. She was never successful, yet would often ask me for help with her ****. I just assumed that she didn't know that I knew about her proposing to replacing me. In any event, I always told her that it was a conflict of interest & that I couldn't help. Her loss.

Another one was the boss's secretary. The Commander was a 2-star General, and his secretary thought she was entitled to some special treatment because of that. She & her husband had bought a new home computer & couldn't get it set up & she wanted to know if I could "stop over" & work on it. I told her that I'd be happy to at my current hourly contract rate, which was about $95 at the time, unless she could ask her boss to let me go during normal work hours. Never heard from her again about it.

With regard to automotive work, I had a lift until several months ago, but none of my friends ever bothered me to work on their cars. I was lucky, I guess.

 

[ZRX61]

Given my one dog is VERY protective of me and 'his' house, that kid would probably need emergency care had he broken into my house.

My dogs are cool til you do something that seems 'off' then you get a warning, a growl.. from there it gets worse... Had a guy over to look over some plumbing... had to remove the dog... hes uber friendly, but do something out of the norm, or try to remove something thats here? even if its yours... and you left it here and came back for it, he considers its now his.

Had a guy come by one day when I still had my wolves. The guy was a bit sketchy to put it mildly. One wolf went & sat by the front door, the other one sat by the back door. No growling or anything, they both just sat there & looked at him all the time he was in the house. Never saw the guy again.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I've got a guy attempting to use me right now but I'm ok with it. I'm going to start a fab business up this year and I'm actually using him to learn to deal with customers and the issues that come up when dealing with the public, and also because he's starting up a pressure cleaning business and has tons of stuff he wants to have built for the trailer because the shops around here charge through the roof.

He's a cocky ex cop and ******* in jest about just about everything to which I just reply that I guarantee he's getting his money's worth - which is nothing. Outside of having less time to work on my own projects I'm not too upset about it. He's got one or two more freebies left in me and then I'll hit him for some hourly wage. That or if I get my LLC set up first then I'll definitely start charging. I'm getting experience and having fun and outside of his mannerisms he's not that bad to hang out with. For now. lol

 

[bwringer]

I think I'm not the only one here who does a lot of work for family and close friends, and I find much of it immensely rewarding, especially the motorcycle work. My wife works with mentally challenged folks, and I've also donated work and parts to the needy several times. The vast majority of the time, people do respect my time and skills, and I'm happy to help.


However, this thread is a great place to vent about those "other" times...

To wit: why is it that once you touch something, it's your baby from then on out? I'm currently dodging a Hyundai and a fancy Samsung dryer (different people) that I first tangled with two years ago. And now something else is wrong with both the Hyundai and the dryer and I'm sort of... expected to show up and deal with them. In a city 55 miles away. Like my free labor somehow came with a lifetime warranty. (Not to mention free parts location, delivery, and financing.)

 

[SgtHawkUSMC]

Neighbors??? I had a friend show up from 70 miles away with a Harley frame....

That sounds like fun -- blasting a motorcycle frame, then priming and painting it. And building a bike from scratch. I'd build a classic Harley -- 2 tone paint, lots of chrome.

My cabinet was the best $200 I spent in the garage I think. $3,500 Skatblast cabinet from an alternator rebuilder going out of business.



Wish I had it when I built my last Harley... Frame up including paint and motor in my garage. Only sent out the cylinders and heads. She was bullet proof.

 

[btdobie]

Wish I had it when I built my last Harley... Frame up including paint and motor in my garage. Only sent out the cylinders and heads. She was bullet proof.

I am not a fan of Harleys, but even I have to say that is a nice looking machine.

 

[RonnieC]

Am I the only person who has no idea what ^^^he^^^ just said?

Just for the record, no, you are not alone.

 

[RonnieC]

Another one was the boss's secretary.

Haha! Why is it that executive secretaries think that they are executives, rather than secretaries OF executives?

 

[ZRX61]

I think your cost estimate is off a bit. Doubt that was more than $900 new.

My cabinet was the best $200 I spent in the garage I think. $3,500 Skatblast cabinet from an alternator rebuilder going out of business.

 

[MattVette89]

Hey ovilla, I noticed you're close to me. I'll just drop the car off on Saturday morning, but I need it back by 2.

I don't get asked to work on too much stuff, I tell people I'm too busy with the kids. Exceptions are my BIL who I am extremely close with, or my or my wife's parents. BIL came over last night at 7:30 pm so I could fix a TB/idle issue on his truck. Only a few minutes of my time and he's family. Besides, he's the one who was with me installing hard wood floors 3 weeks ago in one room, and he'll be back next month to do the next room.

I did help my buddy install a chin spoiler the other day on my day off. But it was on a brand new 2016 M3 and I got to cut it up and drill into the bumper. I thought that was a cool project. And he bought beer and wings after so I figured we were square.

In other cases, you just have to learn how to say no. Or charge them accordingly.

 

[zzflattop]

Okay, let's hear your stories, or am I the only one being asked lately "Can I just drop off the car?" - so I can work on it. Seriously, friends I haven't seen in forever and who never have time to hang anymore, yet they know that I have tools and know how to work on cars, so they want it done ASAP (AND for free - of course). I'm getting really good at saying NO.

True friends and family, who I know are truly grateful and really need the help (and yet never even ask for it), and have always been mutually respectful and helpful, I'll help them right away, especially when they need their car to get to work, school, or doc appointments.

So, who's burned your garage/tool access bridge lately?

I know full well what you're saying... I don't mind helping someone who needs it out, but it gets to a point where some people have no idea. I need to learn how to say "no" more often. The biggest problem I had when it comes to tools, is my boys forgetting how clean and replace a tool. I learned real quick (as did they), how effective the lock on a Snap On box is. They learned pretty quick when the tools were no longer available.

 

[ovilla]

Wow! Since this posting I've had two recent situations where my faith in humanity was restored.

One friend had a Toyota Highlander that needed new plugs. The back three were under the manifold and it took forever. He helped initially but needed to leave for work. I then worked on it the rest of the night since I knew how much they really needed the truck. Guess what? Got a thank you card AND a $75 gift card AND he treated me to the range AND supplied the guns AND unlimited ammo (he's a LEO).

Another friend came over to use my tire changer and wheel balancer in order to swap out tire pressure monitoring sensors on two cars. Not only was he a quick learner on the machines but he also knew how to treat tools - especially my digital torque wrench (which I never let anybody touch - they typically get the manual craftsman one). Anyway, he showed up early with donuts, helped clean up a bit, and then HE BOUGHT ME A TOOL, which he knew I wanted for my shop. Fricken awesome!

Oh yeah, just to bring me back to reality, a "friend" that I haven't heard from in almost 2 years wanted to know if I could come help him build a deck. Didn't even bother calling me to say hello or catch up first - just asked over a text. I've yet to reply.

 

[bwringer]

I feel your pain. Don't forget, when you do somebody a computer favor, you enroll yourself in a free lifetime warranty for any related or unrelated issues. "Look, I know you were here a month ago and fixed my dial-up modem, but now my games won't play right" (actual comment). Or, "Hey, thanks for fixing my burnt-out backlight in my laptop, but now I get pop-ups when I am online".

^^^ I quit working on relatives computes for the same reasons. I tell them Geeksquad or just buy a new computer.

Yep. If anyone asks, I don't know nuttin' 'bout no computers.

I dodged a bullet a few months ago. My Mom called me because she had gotten some sort of scareware virus thing on her shitbox Wally World laptop. I mean, she gave birth to me, but there are limits... she lives four hours away and her brain turns to complete mush when confronted with a mouse and keyboard, so I knew this would involve an excruciating in-person visit.

Suddenly inspiration hit...

"Mom, in the tiny remote village where you live, there is a house with a sign out front saying "Computer Repair".

"Why yes, yes there is."

"Yep, there's one in every remote village. What you're going to do is take your computer and its power adapter to this house. Inside the house will be a rotund, gruff man with an unkempt beard, surrounded by computer parts. Be nice to this man. Tell him exactly what happened. Confess everything, answer his questions as best you can, and do not lie. In exchange for about $100, he will make your computer work."

And lo, it came to pass. Unkempt beard and all, it was exactly as I predicted. I haven't heard a peep out of her regarding computers since. It's been absolutely wonderful.